As approved by the Board of Trustees on August 20, 2007, and re-affirmed on July 9, 2011, the following conflict of interest standards apply to all Trustees. Conflict Of Interest Standards The following standards apply to each member of the Board of Trustees of Kepler College. These standards are intended to serve as guidance for everyone serving on the Board of Trustees.

Fiduciary Responsibilities. Members of the Board of Trustees have an obligation to make all decisions based solely on the desire to promote the interests of the institution and the public good. The College's integrity must be considered and advanced at all times.

Trustees may be involved in the affairs of the College and/or of other institutions, businesses and organizations. An effective Board may not always consist of individuals entirely free from perceived, potential or real conflicts of interest. Although most such conflicts are and will be deemed to be inconsequential, it is every Trustee's responsibility to ensure the Board is made aware of situations at the College that involve personal, familial or business relationships.

If a matter for consideration or decision that raises a potential or real conflict of interest for any Trustee arises, the Trustee shall disclose such to the Chair of the Board as soon as possible. The disclosure shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting where a vote by the Board will occur on the matter. In the event a Trustee is uncertain as to the need to make disclosure in a particular instance, the Trustee should seek counsel from the Chair and/or the President of the College. They, in turn, may elect to consult with legal counsel. As permitted by State or Federal law, a Trustee may receive compensation from the College as an independent contractor, or for his or her services as a Trustee. This, by itself, is not deemed a conflict of interest. However, in such event, the Trustee shall be prohibited from voting for or determining any specific dollar amounts for any such compensation and compensation must be reasonable with respect to similar positions in similar institutions. A Trustee who is deemed to have a potential or real conflict of interest with respect to any such matter shall not vote or participate in discussion in connection with the matter. That Trustee’s presence may not be counted in determining whether there exists a quorum for purposes of validating the vote on the matter. A Trustee who is found to have violated this conflict of interest standard will be removed from the Board of Trustees.